Apparatus for the hot purification of gases



Nov. 4, 1930. A. JOSEPH APPARATUS FOR THE HOT PURIFICATION OF GASES Eiled July 30. 1928 Z MJ Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES\` PATENT OFFICEl ALFRED JOSEPH, OF ENGHEIN, FRANCE, ASSIGNOB T0 COMPAGNIE INTERNATIONALE POUR LA FABRICATION DES ESSENCES ET PETROLES, 0F PARIS, FRANCE, A COM- Y PANY OF FRANCE APPARATUS FOB THE HOT PURIFICATION 0F GASES Application tiled July 30, 1928, Serial No. 296,288,`and in France Getober 6, 1987.

'lhis invention relates to elements of apparatus for the hot purification of distillation, pyrogenation and other gases, particularly for their subsequent enrichment by hydrogen.

It is known that the gases derived from the distillation or the pyrogenation of coal, lignites, peats, tars or other carbonaceous materials can be used, in particular for the manufacture of light hydrocarbons, only after a preliminary purification, chieiiy a desulphurization as completo as possible.

Such desulphurization is effected generally by means of metals such as nickel, copper etc., or of oxides or suboxides capable o readily forming sulphides with the sulphur contained in the gaseous mass to be purified. The sulphides formed must be able to be periodically dissociated for the elimination of the sulphur, in other vwords the purifying agent must be regenerated. This operation is most simply effected by means of a current of air or oxygen which, by eliminating the sulphur of the sulphides, gives rise t\the formation of sulphurous anhydride and oxides. Now, the regeneration in practice is ,effected only by means of a very considerable elevation of temperature, which is in the first place usually inadmissible in an industrial plant wherein the purifying apparatuses form part of a group comprising amongst others-` in its immediate vicinity, for example catalytic apparatuses. However, the main inconvenience` of an excessive elevation of temperature is to be seen in the fact that the i purifying agent or the carrier fuses and,

therefore, is no longer in the state of fine subdivision indispensable for effective action'. This therefore leads. in ordcrfto avoid the excessive elevation of' temperature, to slowing the regeneration and thereby retarding thel instant at which the purifying apparatus is able to be restored to active service. This results in a great inconvenience and a loss of time in the entire series of industrial operations of which the purifying constitutes a phase.

The subject of the present invention is manner of construction of the purifying apparatuses which entirely suppresses the above disadvantages.

The invention consists, in rinciple, in loeating the purifying materia constituted in the known manner of a subdivided metal or o xide, mounted on a carrier of porous material, orcelain or otherwise, in passages of annu ar section, offering an enveloped radiating .surface additional to the enveloping radiatm surface. In this manner the mass subJecte to the action of the regeneratin stream of air is enabled not to become 'heate 4tobeyond the desired degree, by virtue of suitable cooling, by radiation simultaneously towards the exterior and towards the axis of the apparatus.

The inventionl is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional elevation and a plan view of one embodiment of the invention and Fi 3 is a sectional elevation of another embo 'ment In practice, the purifying elements can be constituted, most simply, by two coaxial tubes A, A1, leavin between them an annular space a, close at its two ends annular covers or bases B, B1, as shown, y way of example, in sectional elevation and sectional plan alon lthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in Fi s. 1 and o the accompanying drawing. e purifying mass -of known composition, such as nickel in the finely divided state for exa-mle mounted on a porous carrier, is disposed Vin the s ace a between two grids C, C1 in the formo bricks, small tubes or other .appropriate form, leaving at the ends of the annular purifying element, two chambers D, D1, respectively for the inlet of the ases to be uriiied and the outlet of the residual ases m regeneration on the one hand, an the outlet of the purified gases as well as the inlet of the regpnerating air or oxygen on the other hand. is an inlet pipe for gas, rovided with a cut-off cock e, and from w ich is branched ar ipe F, for the outlet of the gases (SO2-i- 2) derived from the regeneration; this pipe, preferably tangential to the annular element, is obviousl provided with a cut-off cock f. G-g in 'catesaii outlet ipe for the purified gases, from which is ranched an inlet pipe (H-z.) for air or oxygen.

As can be seen, the purifying element thus constructed comprises an external envelo ing radiating surface A1, to which is adde the internal enveloped radiatin surface A. It

l is necessar for obtaining t e desired result,

that the w1dth of the annular space, the distance between the walls A1 and A, be kept sufiiciently small that the median zone of the v said space, which is at therhighest temperam ture, 1s not unduly distant from the radiating walls. Thus, for example, a purifying element the enveloped wall A of which has an internal diameter of about 300 millime tres, should have an annular space of about..

100 millimetres in width, the diameterofthe external envelope A1 being about 500 millimetres.

With urifying elements like that described, tli

the purifying metal or of the carrier thereof is certain not to be attained, whilst at the r same time regeneration is effected in far less time than with elements of the same capacity of full section.

It is obvious that the envelopes A and A1, which bound the annular s ace, instead of bein constituted by straig t c linders of circu ar section, may have any ot er suitable eometrical form; an annular space could for example be provided between two undulating or star section walls, should it be considered necessary to increase further the enveloping and enveloped radiatin surfaces.

It is not absolutely indispensab e that the walls A and A1 have parallel generatrices, in other words that the size of the annular space a be constant throughout the entire height or length of the purif ing elements. A size of annular space cou d be adopted increasing progressively' from the zone wherein the temerature tends to become most elevated, as indicated in Fi 3.

The describecgl purifying elements may be employed in the form of batteries of elements in series, series-parallel or otherwise, and in various numbers, according to the particular a. plication for which they, are intended.

e elements may be provided with any additional pipes and cocks which a regeneration not effected exclusively by means of air or oxy en may require.

C aims:

1. Apparatus for the purification of distillation ases comprising inner and outer tubular wa s providing an annular space therebetween for the passage of distillation gases to be purified and said inner wall providing an open space enclosed therein, whereby heat is radiated from the surfaces of both of said walls, means forming annular chambers adj acent the ends of said walls for conducting gases to and from said space, and means for severally conducting and discharging distillation gases to be purified and regenerating 65 gases to and from said chambers.

e critical temperature of fusion of 2. Apparatus for the purification of distillation gases comprisin inner and outer tubular walls, means inc uding an annular grid extending between said walls to define a chamber adapted to contain a purifying agent, and a cover for said walls forming with said grid an annular space for conducting gases to said chamber, said inner wall enclosing an open space whereby heat is radiated from the surfaces of both inner and outer walls.

3. Apparatus -for the purification of distillation gases comprising inner and outer tubular walls a pair of annular grids between said walls defining a chamber adapted to containa purifying material, covers for the ends of said walls forming with said grids annular inlet and outlet chambers, and conduits for conducting ases to and from said inlet and outlet cham ers, said inner wall enclosing an open s ace whereby heat is radiated from the sur aces of both inner and outer walls. v

4. Apparatus for the purification of distillation gases comprising inner and outer tubular Walls defining therebetween an annular chamber adapted to contain purifyin material, an annular grid at each end-0f sai chamber, end covers for said walls defining with said grids annular end chambers, and means for conducting gases to and from said end chambers, the inner wall being open at both ends to provide a passage for cooling air.

5. Apparatus for the purification of distillation gases comprising inner and outer 10. tubular walls defining therebetween an annular chamber adapted to contain purifyinvr material, an annular grid at each end-of sai chamber, en'd covers for said walls defining with said grids annular end chambers, means l for conducting and discharging distillation gases from said end chambers and means for conducting and. discharging regenerating gases from said end chambers, the inner tubular wall being open at both ends to provide llo a passage for cooling air.

6. Apparatus for the purification of distillation gases comprising inner and outer tubular walls defining therebetween an annular chamber adapted to contain purifying lll material, the diameter of at least one of said walls progressively varying between its ends, an annular grid at each end of said chamber, end covers for said Walls defining with said grids annular end chambers, l and means for conducting gases to and from said end chambers, the inner wall enclosing iln open space therein for the radiation of eat.

In testimony whereof I have signed this l.

specification.

ALFRED JOSEPH. 

